Summer / Autumn Sightseeing Bus
From June to October, Furano Station is the starting point for “half-day-sightseeing tours” conveniently aligned with the train schedule. These allow guests who rely on the public transportation system to enjoy this large district as much as possible.
Rokugo Tour
Morning and afternoon departures.
This tour takes you to rural district of Rokugo surrounded by rolling hills and beautiful fields. Visit Rokugo Observatory, Glass Wear Shop, Jam Garden. Take a look at the houses which were used for famous long-running TV drama “Kitano Kuni Kara, ‘From the northern country.’
Furano and Biei Tour
We highly recommend this tour to nature and art lovers. It introduces you to fascinating flower fields and the breathtaking scenery of Hokkaido’s countryside and amazing art galleries.
The tour bus by JR Hokkaido
Summer Shuttle Bus Service
From June to August Furano Bus Co. provides two convenient shuttle bus lines to popular tourism spots. Bookings are not necessary.
Farm Tomita Bound via Furano Winery and Furano grape Juice Factory.
Furano Cheese Factory Bound.
Timetable and fares.
Local Buses
All lines depart from in front of the Furano JR Station.
Ski Zone / Asahikawa Bound (Lavender Go) Timetable and fares
New Furano Prince Hotel / Ski Zone to Furano Station to Asahikawa Station and back.
Rokugo Bound (Rokugo Sen) Timetable and fares
Visit beautiful Hokkaido countryside
Highland Furano Onsen Bound (Highland Sen) Timetable and fares
Relax in a newly renovated spa over looking mountains.
Ski Zone Bound (Goryo Sen)
You can take “Lavender Go” and “Goryo Sen” to hit the ski hill.
Torinuma Park Bound (Asamachi Sen)
Row a boat on the “Pond of Birds” Torimuma and take a walk in the forest.
Yamabe Bound (Nishitappu Sen / Rouseppu Sen)
Get off at “Byoho” bus stop to celebrate “Yamabe Cherry Blossom Festival” in early May or at “Nijyu Issen” to join “Yamabe Ykinko Matsuri (Snow festival)” in Mid. Feb.
How to book and make payments
Booking is recommended for most sightseeing buses. Please check the details on their websites. They accept your booking a month prior to boarding. However you can obtain a seat without booking on the day if the tour is not fully booked. Please make a payment when you confirm the reservation and get a voucher at the ticket window in Furano.
Reservations are not necessary for the shuttle bus service and local bus lines. Please get a ticket from the machine which is located just inside the bus, when you get on the bus. check the board over the driver’s seat. The number on the ticket and the board indicates your fare. Then put coins into the machine next to the driver’s seat. This machine can break 1,000YEN bills. However it’s better idea to prepare enough coins when you take a bus.
Furano Bus Co. http://www.cbnet.co.jp/furanobus
JR Hokkaido http://www2.jrhokkaido.co.jp/global/index.html
Furano Station Tel: +81-167-22-0909 (in Furano omit first 5 digits)
Japan Railway
JR Furano Line (Furano Sen) which runs between Furano Station and Asahikawa Station, takes approximately 70 min. via Biei, links major tourist attractions in the area. Running parallel to Rt.273, Furano Line offers you wonderful window views of rolling hills and fields. From June to August the “Furano to Biei Norokko Go” , (literally means “Go slow line” and it does go slowly), goes 30km per hour to enable all the guests to enjoy the train ride more. “Norokko Go” connects Furano to Biei/ Asahikawa 3 times a day and makes a stop at “Lavender Fields Station / Lavender Batake Eki” which opens temporally during summer. This station offers you easy access to “Farm Tomita”, and other popular flower fields such as “Saika no Sato” and “Town Lavender Fields / Cyoei Lavemder En”. All these fields nest in “Hokusei Yama / Mt. Hokusei" (more like a hill) where you can enjoy taking a walk in the forest or visiting cafes. The chair lift is open for summer as well.
Please check the details about seasonal discount train passes through the JR Hokkaido web-site.
You can join various bus tours departing from Biei Station, Kami Furano Station and Furano Station. For onsen lovers, Shirogane Onsen Bus Line departs from Biei Station, Tokachidake Onsen Bus Line departs from Kami Furano Station and Highland Furano Bus Line departs from Furano Station.
JR Furano Line fares from Furano Station to each destination
Destination |
Fare |
Naka Furano Station |
220YEN |
Kami Furano Station |
350YEN |
Bibaushi Station |
530YEN |
Biei Station |
620YEN |
Asahikawa Station |
1,040YEN |
Taxi
You can get a taxi in front of Furano JR Station all year round. Taking a taxi might be a good idea to get around the area for those who are not confident enough to drive, especially during Winter, or for a busy traveler. There is a minimum charge of 530YEN and then 260YEN per km. (410YEN per mile) will be added after that. They offer an hourly hiring system without booking for passengers who want to visit tourist spots efficiently; 8,100YEN for 90 min, 10,800YEN for 2 hours, 16,200YEN for 3 hours and 21,600YEN for 4 hours. As an example 90 min-ride enables you to visit “Furano Winery” and “Farm Tomita”, and you can have a trip to Biei for a 4-hour- ride. All drivers are willing to take you any place where you have special interests. 4000YEN extra charge will be added every 30 min. If you are traveling in a party of 5 or more, you can take a “Jumbo Taxi / Station wagon Taxi”. “Jumbo Taxi” are not usually parked in front of the station so please visit the “Information Center” located next to the station to make an arrangement.
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